Mohave County miner., 1887-12-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
trRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE. J


WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 1887.
BY actual count there are now seventy
five Congressman at the Capital, and the
list is heightened on the arrival OF nearly
every train. Among the most prominent
Of the members | have noticed on the
Avenue Chats Pennsylvania Avenue, so
called by all Washingtonians, are Messrs.
Voorhees,, Harrison, Edmunds and Evarts
OF the Senate, and Messrs. Carlisle,
Springer, Breckenridge and Davenport Of
the House. Two other remarkable men
and notable figures who are often seen on
the streets are the ex-President OF the
Senate and the President Of the Senate,
John Sherman and John J. Ingalls,. The
stately form OF the Ohio Senator is seldom
seen outside OF his carriage on the streets,
while on the other hand the long, willowy
figure OF the picturesque Kansan can
often be seen mingling with the throngs
that frequent the thoroughfares OF this
beautiful city. II one wishes 10 catch a
glimpse occasionally Of most OF the ma
tional solons, the best place to take a
stand, outside Of the Capital itself, is in
the corridors of the different Departments,
near the doors Of the Secretary's office.
When common mortal, like you or |,
dear reader, would enter the awe-inspir-
ing presence OF Cabinet minister, the
obliging door-kecper always hands out a
card, with blanks, wherein we are requir-
ed to state "name and nature OF busi-
ness" and send it in by a messenger
before there is the slightest chance for
admission; but, when member" as
| they are popularity known, appears, the
door flies open as if by magic by the
time he is in six feet OF it.
II is said that Mr.. Carlisle, presuming
on his election as Speaker, which nobody
doubts, is casting about for suitable
material for Congressional committee
task that will tax the great tact and
skill of the Kentucky statesman to accom-
plish satisfactorily, as there are hundred
or more new men to place, great num-
ber Of the ablest and most experienced
Congressman having been relegatcd to
! the peaceful walks OF private life
As foreshadowed in my last letter, the
resignation of Commissioner OF the Land
Office Sparks has taken place, the Presi-
dent letting down the arrogant and rebel
lious official as easily as possible. This
was the only way, outside OF a peremp-
tory dismissal, to properly rebuke the
persistent insubordination Of the irascible
Illinoian, who constantly deported him
self in office as if he was lord of all he
surveyed
1t is the gossip OF the hotel and De-
partment corridors that some opposition
is developing to the confirmation Of Sec
retary Lamar's probable nomination to
the Supreme Bench, chiefly on account OF
his advanced age-he is entering his 63d
year-and it appears that this feeling is
by no means confined to bis political
opponents. There is disposition on the
part OF Republican Senators to raise a
sectional outcry against the Secretary on
account of his having within the last four
years championed the civil chieftain Of
the Southern Confederacy, on the floor OF
the United States Senate.
1t tis broadly intimated that the Supreme
Court is equally divided on the issue OF
the prohibition cases from Iowa, Kansas
and Georgia, and that the new Justice
will have to cast the deciding vote. 1t
now stands four TO four, nine being full
bench.
In the celebrated drive-well cases the
Supreme Court has recently rendered a
decision against the patentee, who claims
a royalty OF ten dollars each on all the
wells driven in the United States, the
number being estimated at five millions.
The deficiencies for the transportation
OF the mails amounted to from eight to
fifteen million dollars per annum few
years since, but these deficits have been
gradually reduced until they are now no
more than a million a year-so that by
the end Of the present year the Postofiice
Department promises to be on a self-sus-
tanning basis.
Assistant Commissioner OF Patents Gen.
Robert b. Vance, OF n. c., brother Of
Senator Vance, is acting as Commissioner
of Patents during the absence OF MIR.
Hall, and he makes an efficient official,
being both atfable and popular, and fully
equipped, by natural ability and his ex-
perience in Congress as chairman Of the
Committee on Patents, to ably discharge
the responsible duties devolving upon
him.